Review

Joseph Eduoard Barat
Andante et Allegro:

Arranged by Bob Burnham

1 solo tenor trombone, 6 tenor, 1 bass trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with brass
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

This sort of arrangement is coming to be sort of fashionable; a work originally for solo trombone and piano expanded into an ensemble piece with multiple accompanying trombones. Mr. Burnham has done a good job distributing the notes of the original piano part to an ensemble of seven trombones accompanying the soloist. This can only be a gesture in the direction of economy, since many college and professional groups number eight players.

Replacing the piano with trombones presents a particular challenge with range. Upper parts frequently lie above the solo line presenting the possibility of covering the soloist, which is not a problem when playing with piano because of its different timbre. The only accompanying part containing an ossia passage one octave lower is the first part, in measure 37. This part and the second part are given completely in tenor clef. All others, including the solo part, are entirely in bass clef.

The other challenge here is coordinating the rhythmic arpeggiation of the transcribed accompaniment, particularly between parts four and five in measures 24-40, between parts six and seven in measures 58, 76-81, and at the end of the Andante section. Similar technical challenges exist in the Allegro section among all the parts. The arrangement is not easy but presents no overwhelming difficulties. As a feature for a soloist, this is a real winner!